UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 21, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Budget for municipalities this year is 40% higher than 3 years ago (RTK)
• Konjufca: The U.S. sees Kosovo from a much higher level (RTK)
• Central Bank Governor meets with Austrian Ambassador Schnetzer (media)
• Krasniqi: Allegations that process for electing new mayors in north is dragging on, unfair (Kallxo)
• Ajeti reports to Committee that supervises the KIA (RTK)
• Maqedonci visits Finland, security of Kosovo also discussed (RTK)
• Kurti denies accusations of unequal treatment of municipalities (Kallxo)
• Trial against Milan Jovanovic, accused of war crimes in Kosovo, begins (Koha)
• Ambassadors go to Prime Minister Kurti's office (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

• Nenezic: Dinar is just an excuse to open issue of remaining Serbian institutions in Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Serbian NGOs from Kosovo: Systematic and orchestrated attacks by GoK officials on the civil sector (Beta, NMagazin, KoSSev, KiM radio )
• Less and less dinars in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
• Education staff express protest in Mitrovica North, say they cannot withdraw salaries because of CBK decision (Kosovo Online)
• Djuric: We have exposed Kurti's disinformation systematically (Tanjug)
• Drecun: Kurti is putting obstacles in dialogue with Belgrade with unilateral moves (RTV)
• Dacic: SPS supports establishment of movement (Tanjug)
• Vucic receives new head of CoE office in Belgrade (Tanjug)
• Swiss daily: Fewer and fewer Serbs in Kosovo - and in Serbia as well (DW)

International:

• Ethnocentric Yugoslav War Commemorations Taint the Future, Experts Warn (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media:

• Konjufca: O’Brien’s statement is concerning (media)
• Sarrazin: Window not closed yet; Kosovo, Serbia to implement Ohrid deal (DW)
• Gervalla says she never asked for Rohde’s removal: Untrue and absurd (media)
• ESI background paper: Invented pogroms (media)
• Gervalla meets German Vice Chancellor (media)
• Sources: Agreement near between LDK and AAK in Pristina (Indeksonline)
• Hoti: Unprecedented deterioration of budget structure in last 3 years (media)
• Tahiri: North without state sovereignty and with increased protectorate (media)
• Rohde: Delighted that Foda takes charge of Kosovo national team (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• A team of lawyers submitted a request for an assessment of the constitutionality of the CBK Regulation, requesting a suspension until the court's decision (KoSSev)
• Communities in Serbian areas could not receive social assistance and child allowances today because of CBK decision (Kosovo Online)
• Janjic: Kurti completely ignores reality in Kosovo (Euronews in Serbian, media)
• Analysts on Osmani’s statements, Kurti’s goal not to establish ZSO (Kosovo Online)
• My word worth more than someone else's firm promise - Vucic tells TASS (Tanjug)
• Vucic speaks by phone with Kazakhstan's Tokayev (Tanjug)
• Rada Trajkovic says her income blocked by executors (KiM radio, Danas)
• ''Borrell was supposed to visit Kosovo on February 26, the trip was postponed after the talks in Munich'' (Kosovo Online)

International:

• Transparency Questions over ‘Secret’ Kosovo Lobbying Contract (BIRN)
• Minority Serbs protest Kosovo’s decision to abolish the Serbian dinar currency (Independent)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 19, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

• Osmani: Honored friends, allies joined us to celebrate independence day (media)
• Kurti: We are partners with USA, but it does not mean that we always agree (Koha)
• Sarrazin: Kosovo and Serbia must advance implementation of Ohrid agreement (DW)
• Gervalla briefs German MPs about “substantial changes” in north (media)
• Gervalla and Turkish FM discuss increasing security capacities (Koha)
• Gervalla meets foreign ministers of Croatia, Portugal and Liechtenstein, security a priority (media)
• Rucker: Decision on the dinar, hasty (media)
• Abbott: Kosovo, a special country that deserves to be successful (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

• Veljkovic: Belgrade left us in the lurch, and Pristina is harassing us (KiM radio, Media Center Caglavica)
• Radakovic: Verification of signatures to oust mayors could have been completed in a day (Kosovo Online)
• Nestorovic: Process of removing mayors deliberately stalling (Kosovo Online)
• Vucevic: We work every day to make our Army stronger, it is the guarantor of peace in Kosovo (Kosovo Online, RTS)
• Zeman: By recognizing Kosovo West created dangerous precedent (RTS)

Albanian Language Media:

• Biden congratulates Osmani on Kosovo independence day (media)
• Krasniqi meets Hovenier, “crucial to safeguard partnership with U.S.” (media)
• Ismaili meets Guerot, briefs on new cash payment operations regulation (media)
• Quint, EU ambassadors meet representatives of Kosovo Serb community (media)
• Joint meeting with Kurti and Vucic not on Borrell’s agenda (RFE)
• Ahmeti: Kosovo got here through cooperation with international community (KSP)
• Montenegro Deputy PM Gjeloshaj to visit Kosovo (media)
• VV MPs want IMC board dismissed, because of return of “Arena Sport” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Quint ambassadors and head of EU delegation in Kosovo with representatives of Serbs (KiM radio)
• Borrell announced separate meetings with Kurti and Vucic in Munich (Beta, Danas)
• Vucic in Munich with Cameron and Hahn (RTS)
• Vucevic: Kurti creating impossible conditions for survival of Kosovo Serbs (Tanjug, TV Prva)
• 23 years since bomb attack against Nis-Express bus in Livadice, memorial service held in Laplje Selo (KoSSev, media)
• Office for KiM: Devastating that the Livadice crime is a closed case (RTS, media)
• Serbian List: We demand those responsible for crimes against Serbs be urgently found and punished (Kosovo Online)
• Abolition of dinar directly affects salaries, pensions, and social assistance for about 95,000 people (DW, Danas, KoSSev)
• Derikravic continues hunger strike, his representative says his condition deteriorates (KoSSev, Radio KIM)
• Sentic visits Visoki Decani Monastery, says Constitutional Court decision on monastery’s land to be implemented without delay (KoSSev, media)

Opinion:

• Weller: Serbia’s great challenge to Kosovo (Koha)

Albanian Language Media:

• Kusari-Lila: Dinar has not been banned, it can be used like any other currency (RTK)
• Minister Gervalla leaves for Munich to participate in the Security Conference (media)
• Kryeziu-Hyseni: Focus of the reporting has been on Banjska issue (RTK)
• NCU says Bislimi’s labeling, against spirit of dialogue and European values (Koha)
• The American Chamber of Commerce proposes three alternatives for solving dinar issue (Koha)
• Georg Schnetzer: Kosovo remains a priority of Austria's foreign policy (RTK)
• 55 NGOs request dismissal of Balje and Deme-Murtezi from Human Rights Committee (media)
• Kamberi accuses Lajcak of double standards (Koha)
• The EESC accepts 9 candidate countries, Kosovo not included (RTK)

Serbian Language Media:

• Brnabic: Only strong Serbia can solve issues of national interest (Tanjug)
• Dacic meets Botsan-Kharchenko (Tanjug)
• Selimi and Thaci gave confidential information about witnesses to visitors in Hague custody (KiM radio, Beta, NMagazin, Danas)
• Joseph: Kurti scored “an own goal”, continues uncoordinated actions which damage Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Reactions to Bislimi’s statement on Serbian NGOs and Brussels meetings continue (social media, media)
• Rama: Every attack on Kosovo is an attack on Albania, but we should also think about the importance of allies every day (KoSSev)
• Kosovo police stopped and beat up Serb in northern Kosovo, claims he obstructed officers (RTS)
• Presentation of the defense in the Ivanovic case only after the Prosecution submits documents in the Serbian language (KiM radio, Radio Mitrovica sever)

International:

• US secretary of state visits Albania, a key regional ally seeking European Union membership (AP)